Sports
Steve Sarkisian - English
Texas Longhorns - English
Tony Alvarez - LW English
The Texas Longhorns are back in the national spotlight, poised to make a championship run under head coach Steve Sarkisian. While the program hasn’t won a national title since 2005, the tides are turning with a historic recruiting class, star quarterback Arch Manning stepping into a starting role, and an unprecedented level of financial investment in the team. However, behind the optimism lies a deeper conversation about the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, which have transformed college football recruiting.
Texas has always been regarded as a powerhouse program, but consistency eluded them for years-especially during Tom Herman’s tenure, when the team struggled to post 10-win seasons and suffered frustrating losses to unranked opponents. Sarkisian, however, has ushered in a new era of stability and success, with Texas making it to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season. The momentum continues in 2025, with the Longhorns landing top recruits such as Jonah Williams and Justus Terry and setting a program record with 12 players drafted into the NFL.
She looks stunning! Simone Biles gets futuristic facial treatment next before the Met Gala
One of the biggest factors in Texas’s resurgence has been the introduction of NIL deals, which allow players to earn money based on their personal brand and sponsorships. Texas, generating over $300 million in revenue, has used this financial advantage to build a highly competitive roster. Reports suggest that last year, Sarkisian allocated around $11 million toward his team-an investment that led to a CFP semifinal appearance.
This year, Texas is doubling down, with estimates indicating the program may spend up to $40 million on NIL to compete at the highest level. However, this staggering figure has raised concerns about sustainability. Analyst Pat McAfee recently questioned whether such spending is the new standard in college football, highlighting the financial arms race among elite programs.
Why Is the President Stepping In on NIL?
The future of College Football and NIL
The NIL landscape continues to evolve, with the House v NCAA settlement expected to introduce a $20.5 million salary cap for athletic programs. Once implemented, all teams will be bound by the same financial restrictions. But even with these regulations, booster-funded NIL collectives will remain, potentially allowing certain programs to maintain an advantage in recruiting.
ESPN’s Heather Dinich has warned of “booster fatigue,” comparing NIL spending to Wall Street’s financial bubbles. With college football boosters pouring millions into programs, many are questioning how long such investments can continue before programs are forced to recalibrate.
Despite the looming NIL adjustments, Texas has a prime opportunity to win its first national championship in two decades. Sarkisian’s aggressive spending strategy, combined with the return of key players and the rise of Arch Manning, positions the Longhorns among the top contenders. However, Texas is not alone in its NIL-driven approach-other Power 4 programs are reportedly investing similar amounts to build competitive rosters.
With a $40 million NIL budget, a star-studded team, and momentum on their side, Texas is charging full speed ahead toward the 2025 season. The question now is whether this financial model will lead to sustained success or if the bubble, as some analysts predict, will eventually burst.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Steph Curry leaves Game 1 vs. Timberwolves with hamstring strain
MINNEAPOLIS — Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry left the first half of Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a left hamstring strain. He asked out and went straight to the locker room during a timeout. General manager Mike Dunleavy checked on him and the team quickly ruled him out for the night.AdvertisementCurry and the Warriors were in control when he went down, up 30-20 after the third of Draymond Green’s four first half 3s. They maintained a great defensive effort and a double-digit lead in the first half, holding the Timberwolves to 31 points on 0-of-15 shooting from 3. Golden State was up 44-31 at the break.But Curry’s hamstring injury looms large over the early portion of this series and ups the pressure on the Warriors to find a way to close out a Game 1 road win, […]
NBA playoffs: Tyrese Haliburton says he will ‘gladly’ take fine after reviving Sam Cassell’s big-balls celebration
Tyrese Haliburton can expect a letter from the NBA after perhaps the biggest shot of his life, and he is perfectly fine with that.The Indiana Pacers guard stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers and the rest of the league on Tuesday with a four-point possession that culminated in a 3-pointer to give the Indiana Pacers the lead. The Pacers now lead 2-0 in their Eastern Conference semifinals series, which is headed to Indianapolis on Friday.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYou will notice in the video above that Haliburton moves off-frame for a few moments, as the Cavaliers collect themselves for one last desperation shot. Subsequent replay showed Haliburton to be enjoying himself, Sam Cassell-style.Few celebrations are as well-known as Cassell's infamous big-balls dance, which itself originates from the movie "Major League II." Of course, the celebration isn't exactly family-friendly, and the NBA has an established history of […]
NBA playoffs: Tyrese Haliburton says he will ‘gladly’ take fine after reviving Sam Cassell’s big-balls celebration
Tyrese Haliburton can expect a letter from the NBA after perhaps the biggest shot of his life, and he is perfectly fine with that.The Indiana Pacers guard stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers and the rest of the league on Tuesday with a four-point possession that culminated in a 3-pointer to give the Indiana Pacers the lead. The Pacers now lead 2-0 in their Eastern Conference semifinals series, which is headed to Indianapolis on Friday.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYou will notice in the video above that Haliburton moves off-frame for a few moments, as the Cavaliers collect themselves for one last desperation shot. Subsequent replay showed Haliburton to be enjoying himself, Sam Cassell-style.Few celebrations are as well-known as Cassell's infamous big-balls dance, which itself originates from the movie "Major League II." Of course, the celebration isn't exactly family-friendly, and the NBA has an established history of […]
Steph Curry leaves Warriors’ series opener vs. Timberwolves with hamstring injury
<!--> Golden State star Stephen Curry exited in the second quarter of the second-round series opener at Minnesota with a strained left hamstring, and the Warriors said he would not return to the game on Tuesday night.Curry grabbed at the back of his left leg after hitting a floater and immediately headed to the locker room, after scoring 13 points in 13 minutes on 5-for-9 shooting. The 37-year-old Curry helped Golden State beat Houston in Game 7 of their first-round series two nights earlier.-->The four-time NBA champion and 11-time All-Star averaged 24 points per game against the Rockets in the first round for the sixth-seeded Warriors.ADVERTISEMENT <!-->Reporting by The Associated Press.Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! --> recommended […]
Stephen Curry injury: Warriors lose superstar for remainder of Game 1 with strained left hamstring
Getty Images The Golden State Warriors have suffered a huge loss in the first half of Game 1 of their second-round series vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves as Stephen Curry has been ruled out for the remainder of the game with a strained left hamstring. Curry got off to a fast start with 13 points in his first 13 minutes and the Warriors were clicking. After hitting a 3 on one end, Curry appeared to suffer the injury on the defensive end. He managed to stay in the game and hit another push shot on Golden State's next trip, but then he asked out of the game and went straight to the locker room with a noticeable limp. The Warriors so far have managed to hang onto their double-digit lead without Curry as they went into halftime with a 44-31 advantage. The Timberwolves […]
PSG vs. Arsenal predicted lineups, projected starting XI: Thomas Partey back to boost midfield
Getty Images After PSG's 1-0 win at Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals last week in London, the team coached by Luis Enrique are called to make another statement win against the side coached by Mikel Arteta at their home stadium in Paris on Wednesday.In terms of the two squads, PSG have their star Ousmane Dembele back in the team ahead of the Arsenal game, as the Frenchman has recovered in time after suffering a hamstring injury in the last days after scoring the crucial 1-0 goal against the Gunners in London. Both key players, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, are expected to be part of the starting eleven alongside midfielders Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and Joao Neves. PSG head coach Luis Enrique spoke ahead of the return leg in the pre-match press conference, in what […]
Related
Steph Curry leaves Game 1 vs. Timberwolves with hamstring strain
MINNEAPOLIS — Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry left the first half of Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a left hamstring strain. He asked out and went straight to the locker room during a timeout. General manager Mike Dunleavy checked on him and the team quickly ruled him out for the night.AdvertisementCurry and the Warriors were in control when he went down, up 30-20 after the third of Draymond Green’s four first half 3s. They maintained a great defensive effort and a double-digit lead in the first half, holding the Timberwolves to 31 points on 0-of-15 shooting from 3. Golden State was up 44-31 at the break.But Curry’s hamstring injury looms large over the early portion of this series and ups the pressure on the Warriors to find a way to close out a Game 1 road win, […]
NBA playoffs: Tyrese Haliburton says he will ‘gladly’ take fine after reviving Sam Cassell’s big-balls celebration
Tyrese Haliburton can expect a letter from the NBA after perhaps the biggest shot of his life, and he is perfectly fine with that.The Indiana Pacers guard stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers and the rest of the league on Tuesday with a four-point possession that culminated in a 3-pointer to give the Indiana Pacers the lead. The Pacers now lead 2-0 in their Eastern Conference semifinals series, which is headed to Indianapolis on Friday.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYou will notice in the video above that Haliburton moves off-frame for a few moments, as the Cavaliers collect themselves for one last desperation shot. Subsequent replay showed Haliburton to be enjoying himself, Sam Cassell-style.Few celebrations are as well-known as Cassell's infamous big-balls dance, which itself originates from the movie "Major League II." Of course, the celebration isn't exactly family-friendly, and the NBA has an established history of […]
NBA playoffs: Tyrese Haliburton says he will ‘gladly’ take fine after reviving Sam Cassell’s big-balls celebration
Tyrese Haliburton can expect a letter from the NBA after perhaps the biggest shot of his life, and he is perfectly fine with that.The Indiana Pacers guard stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers and the rest of the league on Tuesday with a four-point possession that culminated in a 3-pointer to give the Indiana Pacers the lead. The Pacers now lead 2-0 in their Eastern Conference semifinals series, which is headed to Indianapolis on Friday.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYou will notice in the video above that Haliburton moves off-frame for a few moments, as the Cavaliers collect themselves for one last desperation shot. Subsequent replay showed Haliburton to be enjoying himself, Sam Cassell-style.Few celebrations are as well-known as Cassell's infamous big-balls dance, which itself originates from the movie "Major League II." Of course, the celebration isn't exactly family-friendly, and the NBA has an established history of […]
Steph Curry leaves Warriors’ series opener vs. Timberwolves with hamstring injury
<!--> Golden State star Stephen Curry exited in the second quarter of the second-round series opener at Minnesota with a strained left hamstring, and the Warriors said he would not return to the game on Tuesday night.Curry grabbed at the back of his left leg after hitting a floater and immediately headed to the locker room, after scoring 13 points in 13 minutes on 5-for-9 shooting. The 37-year-old Curry helped Golden State beat Houston in Game 7 of their first-round series two nights earlier.-->The four-time NBA champion and 11-time All-Star averaged 24 points per game against the Rockets in the first round for the sixth-seeded Warriors.ADVERTISEMENT <!-->Reporting by The Associated Press.Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! --> recommended […]
Stephen Curry injury: Warriors lose superstar for remainder of Game 1 with strained left hamstring
Getty Images The Golden State Warriors have suffered a huge loss in the first half of Game 1 of their second-round series vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves as Stephen Curry has been ruled out for the remainder of the game with a strained left hamstring. Curry got off to a fast start with 13 points in his first 13 minutes and the Warriors were clicking. After hitting a 3 on one end, Curry appeared to suffer the injury on the defensive end. He managed to stay in the game and hit another push shot on Golden State's next trip, but then he asked out of the game and went straight to the locker room with a noticeable limp. The Warriors so far have managed to hang onto their double-digit lead without Curry as they went into halftime with a 44-31 advantage. The Timberwolves […]
PSG vs. Arsenal predicted lineups, projected starting XI: Thomas Partey back to boost midfield
Getty Images After PSG's 1-0 win at Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals last week in London, the team coached by Luis Enrique are called to make another statement win against the side coached by Mikel Arteta at their home stadium in Paris on Wednesday.In terms of the two squads, PSG have their star Ousmane Dembele back in the team ahead of the Arsenal game, as the Frenchman has recovered in time after suffering a hamstring injury in the last days after scoring the crucial 1-0 goal against the Gunners in London. Both key players, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, are expected to be part of the starting eleven alongside midfielders Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and Joao Neves. PSG head coach Luis Enrique spoke ahead of the return leg in the pre-match press conference, in what […]
Be the first to leave a comment